Despite the dismal box office numbers fans of Pete Travers’ 2012 Dredd 3D are making as much noise on the Internet as they can, clamoring for more. Will those fans get their Firefly/Serenity day in the sun? The film’s star Karl Urban is on-board for another installment and we’ve got his and the film’s script writer’s thoughts on what form that sequel might take.

At a recent appearance in Chicago, Urban was again asked about a sequel and had this to say:

Why yes, there is a definite possibility. But, it is more likely that we will do the origins story with Dredd trekking through the cursed earth to find the first Chief Judge Fargo.

Those of you not versed in Dredd lore might be asking who the hell Fargo is. Well, he was the Chief Judge Dredd was cloned from. The 1995 Sylvester StalloneJudge Dredd used part of this Dredd lore in the movie’s plot with the addition of making it a collection of Judge DNA instead of a straight clone from Fargo, who you might remember was played by Max von Sydow, one of the few redeeming features of Stallone’s version.

In the original Judge Dredd comics, Fargo was the first Chief Judge Dredd was cloned from. Fargo was never seen again after it was revealed that Dredd was his cloned. Max von Sydow portrayed Fargo in the 1995 Judge Dredd adaptation that starred Sylvester Stallone as the title character.

Would this story move cut out any chance for Olivia Thirlby‘s character Cassandra Anderson? Probably so, since Dredd is well established as a judge when he meets her in Dredd 3D.

While Urban’s thoughts are a good start, mainly because at this point a smaller less expensive sequel might be the ticket to getting Dredd back on the big screen. Dredd 3D’s budget was $50 million. It only made $13 million Domestically, $27 million Internationally, and thankfully $17 million in DVD/Bluray sales. That at least recovered the initial investment, but is hardly a strong foundation to launch a sequel. Putting the sequel in a location and limiting the characters will help control the film’s budget enough to spark interest from some investment money somewhere.

Alex Garland, Dredd 3D’s script writer also had some ideas for a sequel back in 2012:

If I was involved in a second movie, it would be about origins and subversion, and Chopper would feature. In fact, I think Chopper would start and end the story. Apart from him, my rough plan involves Fargo, Giant, Angel Gang, and a version of Satanus. For a trilogy, add Cal and the Dark Judges. And Anderson would be in all three. But… just to be clear, this is hugely speculative and also unlikely, for any number of reasons… There are some variables which would rule me out [of any sequel] immediately.

I think I’d try to make [the Dark Judges] really scary. Not play them for laughs. Just make them totally malevolent and lethal. And use practical effects where possible, except for Fire, which would be an on-set nightmare.

The existential side to the Dark Judges is that they don’t see a point to life. If my film-trilogy daydream was to play out, I would completely rewrite my original script for the Dark Judges – because it was junk – and start again.

If there is a sequel, I’m imagining spending about half the movie in the Cursed Earth, and I would try to come up with some new faces as well as some old ones… I quite like the idea of Satanus. But much more mutated.

But by the way, just so it has been said, I actually think that maybe the best way forward for Dredd is television. American TV has completely rewritten the rule book where filmed drama is concerned. Game Of Thrones/The Wire/Breaking Bad… An equivalent version of Dredd would be fu**ing great. Imagine the epics…

What I really love about his idea is the trilogy, with the Dark Judges in the third film. I truly think that a movie done well with the Dark Judges might capture fans and audience’s attention long enough to be a success at the box office. One could easily weave the Dark Judges into the end of Urban’s idea of a sequel setting up a third film with all out Dark Judges wrecking havoc in Mega City One. I could get behind that idea.

I imagine Dredd learning more about his origin and deciding to seek out Judge Fargo in the Cursed Earth, perhaps finding Fargo delivering justice to a cult trying to raise the Dark Judges? Dredd appears, helps hunt and bring justice to the cult just as they summon the Dark Judges, survives the arrival and departure of the Dark Judges who head off to Mega City One to dispense their own brand of Death Justice, holds Fargo as he says his last words urging Dredd to save his beloved city.

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